Game apparatus



9,1934. J. s. NICHOLAS GAME APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8; 19 1 3 Sheets-Sheet l JAMES S NICHOLAS INVENTOR' wai /F. ,am

ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1934- J. 5. NICHOLAS GAME APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 JAMES S NICHOLAS INVENTOR BY //& J,-%

I ATTORJVEY J. S. NICHOLAS GAME APPARATUS Jan. 9, 1934.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 8, 1931 w 2////////// m m III/- JA MES S NICHOLAS INVENTOR ,Q%'mm ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to games and has for its object the provision of a game apparatus which may be operated to provide an interesting game governed entirely by the laws of chance.

Objects areto provide a game apparatus which will include a tilting table having a container at one end thereof; to provide means for tilting the table to position dice or other playing pieces in said container and to provide conveniently operable-means for projecting the dice from the container to the table.

In the drawings there is illustrated a device constructed in accordance with this invention, it being understood that the invention is not confinedto the exact form shown and that changes and modifications may be made or resort had to substitutions which come within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention will now be described with refersame taken as indicated by the lines22 of Figure 1, V

Figure 3 is a similar view taken as the lines 33 of Figurel,

Figure 4 is a vertical, sectional view taken as indicated by the lines 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a horizontal, sectional view taken as indicated by the lines 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the forward portion of 'a game apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure Tis a fragmentary view showing a bottom view of the forward end portion of same.

In the particular form of the invention shown, the numeral 10 is used generally to denote a supporting structure which in the drawings is shown the form of a box having side walls 11 and 12,

indicated by a forward wall 13, a rear wall 14 and atop wall 15 which is formed of glass or other suitable transparent material. The numeral lfi denotes a horizontal shaft which extends transversely across the box 10 at a point intermediate'its height and length. The shaft 16 extends between the walls 11 and 12 and a table 17 is hingedly mounted thereon. The forward portion of the table 17 is rectangular and when in a horizontal Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view ofposition conforms in shape to the forward portion of the box.

In the form of the invention shown, the rectangular portion of the table 17 extends rearwardly past the shaft 16. The table terminates at 80 the rear end thereof in a relatively small centrally positioned rectangular portion 18. The edges 19 and 20 which extend between the forward rectangular portion and the forward edge of the rectangular portion 18 are inclined to the sides 5 of the box 10. The numerals 21 and 22 designate side walls which project upwardly from the in clined edges 19 and 20 to a horizontal plane adjacent the transparent top wall 15.

The small rectangular portion 18 forms one side of the box or container which may be designated by the numeral 23. The container 23 is provided with a side wall 24 which projects upwardly from the wall 18 and meets the side wall 21. The numeral 25 denotes the other side wall which projects upwardly from the wall 18 and meets the side wall 22. The numeral 26 denotes an upper side wall and the numeral 2'7 the rear wall which completes the box 23. It will be seen that the walls 21 and 22 converge from my a plunger head which extends entirely across the 35) H cavity of the box 23., The plunger 30 is in the form of a rod'which projects rearwardly from. the box 23 for a sufficient distance to permit the plungerhead 31 being freely moved to the for ward end of the box 23. The rod 30 is then curved downwardly, then forwardly and extends along the lower side of the table 17 and projects from a vertical slot 32in the forward wall 13 ofv the box.

The rod 30 is provided on the forward end thereof with a suitable handle 33. The numeral 34 denotes a coil spring which yieldably holds the rod 33 in a forward position. The rod 33 is provided adjacent the forward end thereof with a notch 35 which is formed therein to receive the spring operated catch 36 whereby the handle 33 when operated to move the plunger 31 to a rearward position in the box 23, will expand the spring 34 and the catch 36 will enter the notch 35 and hold the plunger 80 in a rearward position. The catch 36 is in the form of a lever which is fulcrumed on the lower face of the table 1'? by means ofthe bolt 36a for movement in a vertical plane extending transversely across the rod 30. The catch 36 is yieldably held against the lower side of the rod 30 by the coil spring 36d and is normally forced into and held in the notch 35 by said spring.

The catch 36 is operated by a rod 37 which projects upwardly from theupper edge of the forward side 13 of the box. The rod 37 bears against the lever member 361) which is disposed longitudinally of the rod 30 and is fulcrumed on a bracket 36c; the other end of the lever member 36b is positioned beneath the free end of the catch 36. The rod 37 is provided at the upper end thereof with a suitable knob 38 which may be pressed downwardly against the lever member 362) which in turn raises the free end of the catch 36 releasing the same from the notch 35 and causing the spring 34 to quickly and forcibly move the plunger 31 to a forward position in the box 23. The numeral 39 denotes a spring operated catch which is designed to hold the table 17 in a horizontal position. The catch 39 is operated by a handle 40 which projects from the forward end of the box.

As shown in the drawings, the catch 39 is of ordinary cupboard catch construction being provided with a catch bar 39a which is mounted in a suitable frame or casing. The catch bar 39a is provided on the outwardly projecting end thereof with a handle 40 and the inner end thereof is beveled as shown in Figure 3 to provide an inclined surface which will engage the latch plate 39b, automatically moving the catch bar 39a to an outward position, whereupon it can be moved and entered in the socket 390 in the plate 391) to hold the table 17 in a level position.

A block 41 is secured to the side walls 11 and 13 so as to extend across the bottom of the box. A cushion 42 is mounted on the block 41 whereby the portion 18 of the table 1'! will contact with the cushion 42 when the table is in an inclined position. A spring 43 is secured to the box 23 and the block 41 for quickly moving the table 1'7 to an inclined position.

A plurality of dice 44 or other playing pieces are positioned on the table 1'7. To position the dice 44 in the container 23, the handle 33 is first operated to move the plunger 31 to a rearward position in the box 23. The catch 40 is then operated to release the table 17 and the spring 43 pulls the rearward end of the table 17 downwardly to the cushion 42 in which position the inclination of the table causes the dice to' roll downwardly into the box 23. The handle 33 is then operated to move the table to a hori- ,zontal position in which position it is held by the catch 39. The knob 38 is then pressed downwardly to release the catch 36, whereupon the spring 34 moves the rod 30 forwardly with a quick jerk, causing the plunger 31 to quickly eject the dice 44 from the box and propel the same forwardly on the table 1'7.

In the particular adaptation of the invention shown, the interior surface of the forward Wall 13 is provided with a rubber cushion 45 thereby forming a cushion for any dice which may be propelled forwardly with sufficient force to enedly mounted therein, for tilting movement between a horizontal position and an inclined position, means normally tending tomove the rear end of said table to a downward position, a container at the rear end of said table, said container having a forwardly presented open end, a plunger in said container and spring operated means to force said plunger forwardly to eject dice from said container to said table.

2. In a game apparauts, a box, a table hingedly mounted therein for tilting movement from a horizontal playing position to a rearwardly inclined position, a spring yieldably holding the rear end of said table in a downward position; means operable to move the table to a horizontal position, a dice container at the rear end of said table, a plunger in said container and spring operated means to force said plunger forwardly to eject dice from said container to said table.

3. In a game apparatus, a frame, a table hingedly mounted therein for tilting movement from a horizontal position to an inclined position, means normally tending to move the rear end of said table to a downward position, a container at the rear end of said table, said container having a forwardly presented open end and means 100 operable to eject dice from said container to said" table, a catch for holding the table in a horizontal position and means to guide dice from said table to said container as the same are rolled therefrom by the force of gravity when the table is tilted to a rearwardly inclined position.

4. In a game apparatus", a box having a transparent upper wall, a table mounted therein for tilting movement from a horizontal position to an inclined position, means normally tending to move the table to a rearwardly inclined position,

a container at the rear end of said table, said container having a forwardly presented open end and means operable from the outside of said box to eject dice from said container to said table, a, catch for holding the table in a horizontal position; means on the outside of said box for releasing said catch and means to guide dice from said table to said container as the same are rolled therefrom by the force of gravity when the table is moved to a rearwardly inclined position.

5. In a game apparatus, a box having a transparent upper wall, a table mounted therein for tilting movement from a horizontal position to an inclined position, means normally tending to move the table to a rearwardly inclined position,

a container at the rear end of said table, said container having a forwardly presented open end,

the rear end portion of said table having side' walls which taper to said container; side boards along said tapered sides for guiding dice to said container; means operable from the outside of said box to eject dice from said container to said table, a catch for holding the table in a horizontal position, means operable from the outside of said box'to release said catch and means op-' erable from the outside of said box'for moving the table to a horizontal position.

6. In a game apparatus of the character described, a box having a transparent panel in the upper side thereof, a table hingedly mounted therein for movement between a horizontal position and a rearwardly inclined position, a container at the rear end of said table, said container having a forwardly presented open end; the edges of the rear portion of said table tapering to said container, said tapered edges having side walls 7 for guiding dice to said container as the same are moved by gravity from said table, a manually operable catch for holding said table in a horizontal 150 tainer having a forwardly presented open end, a plunger in said container, spring operated means to force said plunger forwardly to eject the contentsof the container onto the table; means to tilt said table to a rearwardly inclined position to cause objects positioned thereon to be moved by gravity into said container.

JAMES S. NICHOLAS. 

